THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606050366
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 31 lines
Authorities investigating two recent arsons at Windsor Oaks Elementary School were trying to serve a search warrant late Tuesday at a home near the school.
Fire spokesman Chase Sargent confirmed that investigators got the warrant Tuesday afternoon to search for evidence linking a suspect to one of the arsons. He would not elaborate and would not say if an arrest was expected.
Investigators arrived at the home in the 400 block of Old Forge Court sometime around 10 p.m. A witness near the house said authorities appeared to be waiting for the resident or residents to return.
Intentionally set fires on May 25 and May 12 destroyed three portable classrooms at the school. A break-in preceded at least one of the arsons.
Investigators said after the last fire that they had no evidence that the cases were linked, but they conceded that there were similarities in the two fires.
There have been four arsons at city schools this school year, including one that caused more than $7 million damage to Princess Anne High School.
A fire truck was dispatched to stand by on Old Forge Court while investigators waited to serve the warrant. A firefighter not involved in the search said that was probably a precaution in case investigators found flammable materials at the home.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS ARSON by CNB